Hydrodisk for washing machines



Feb. 1 1927. J NELSON HYDRODISK FOR wAsHmd MACHINES Filed Dec. 28, 1923 Patented Feb. 1, 1927.

- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN NELSON, OF NEWTON, IOWA, ASSIGNOR TO AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC WASHER CO.) OF NEWTON, IOWA. r

EYDRODISK FOB WASHING MAGHINES.'

Application filed. December 28, 1928. Serial No. 683,128.

'This invention relates to ahydro-disk for washing machines preferably of that type in which alternate rotary motion is imparted.-

to the agitating and washing element. The invention comprises an agitating disk so constructed that it will float without a vacuum over the water in the wash tub during its rotation and the action of which is such that an inverted whirlpool will result so that the clothes will be more efiectively agitated and cleansed.

The invention comprises the novel structure and combination hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out and defined in the appended claims v In the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred form of this invention and in which similar reference numerals refer to similar features in the difl'erent views. t.

Figure 1 is a hydro disk. 7

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the disk.

Figure 3 is a tragmentary sectional view of the disk at one of the pockets.

Figure 4 is a sectional view through a washing machine illustrating the floating characteristics of the disk.

As shown on the drawings:

Referring to the drawings which illustrate one embodiment of thisinvention there is shown a metal disk '1 preferably made of some light metal as alnu'ginum. 'lhis disk bottom plan view ol the till ' though heavier than we or has a contour upon its lower surface th t causes it to substantially float upon the water and clothes during the rotation thereof. This contour is preferably in the form of downwardly extending converging parts or humps, the

bottoms of which slope downwardly toward the outer circumference of the disk, In the present instance the disk is shown as formed with downwardly and radially extending pockets 2; the side walls of which converge 5 toward each other, wedge-like in formation and the bottoms slope downwardly from their inner ends toward the outer periphery oi the disk, A series of apertures or periterations 3 are formed in the bottom of each disk to provide communication between the waterthat usually enters the ock ets and the water in the. wash tab so t at the disk not be a preciably weighted 'thereby.

lheoutar en ct thepockets are substan tially closed as indicated at 4. A concave or other recess 5 however is formed in the upper portion of each end 4 to allow the water in the pockets to be cascaded outwardly. While any suitable number of such radial extending pockets may be formed in each disk, in the present instance I have shown five which are equally spaced apart.

The central part of the disk is formed with a hub6 through which a polygonal aperture 7v extends,

In Figure l l have shown the. disk 1 in connection with a washing machine which consists of a cylindrical container. A polygonal rod 8 is attached inthe aperture of the disk 1 and slidably extends through a bearing in the cover of the tub, and through a gear 9 confined against vertical movement. The disk 1 can accordingly rise and fall on account of the vertically slidable mounting lit of the shalt 8. A segmental rack 10 or any raise the'disk out of the water during rotation thereof. ln other words the. disk 1 has a tendency to float over the water during the. operation thereof; the humps being in the water and also serving to rub the clothes,

During the operation of the washing machine, the rotation'oi the disk will force the clothes and water outwardly and downwardly and at the same time rubbing the same, the clothes and water'rising up in the center to take the :place of the dis laced clothes and water. flhis action may o appropriately described as an inverted whirlpool There will hence be an edective agi tation of the clothes to properlycleanse the same.

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing ironi the principles of this I claim as my invention:

. 1. la a washing machinean agitating disk at greater specific gravity than water hump downwardly and outwardly sloping greater specific gravity than water having" radially extending pockets formed therein and opening upwardly whereby humps are provided upon the bottom of the disk, each pocket having downwardly converging walls and an outwardly and downwardly sloping perforated bottom, the outer end of each pocket having an upper arcuate rccess for cascading the washing fluid from the pocket.

4. A hydro disk having radially extend? ing humps upon its lower surface, each having downwardly extending and substantially converging side walls, and a p I bottom.

5. In combination with a tub o a washing machine adapted to contain a washing liquid, adolly, means for oscillatably supporting said dolly within the tub, said means being constructed and arranged to permit the free vertical movement of said dolly in the tub, and said dolly being composed of material of greater specific gravity than the liquid in the tub and rendered vertically projectible to substantially a water surface position through relative 00- action of the dolly and water content oi the tubresulting from oscillating the dolly.

6. In a washing machine, in combination, a liquid container, a disk of greater specific avity than a liquid content, including de ector means thereon, means for centering deflector neiaeaa and adjustably supporting said disk and means for reciprocating said supporting and centering means, whereby, relative contact between .the disk and water con-tent during such reciprocation will cause said disk to be maintained substantially at the surface level of said liquid content."

7. In a washing machine, in combination, a liquid container, a disk of greater specific gravity than a liquid content, and including deflector means thereon, means for supporting the disk to facilitate vertical projection {thereof and including means, for efiecting relative reciprocation as between the container and disk, whereby resistance between the disk and water content will cause the former to be vertically projected and sustained at substantially the level of the liquid in the container.

8. In a washing machine, in combination, a liquid container, a disk of greater specific gravity than a liquid content and including members thereon, means for centering and adjustably supporting the disk, and means for effecting relative reciprocation as between the container and the disk to cause the latter to be sustained during such relative reciprocation at substantially the liquid content level.

9. In combination with the tub of'a washing machine adapted to contain washing liquid, a dolly, means for oscillatably supporting said dolly within the tub, said means being constructed and arranged to permit the freevertical movement of said dolly in the tub, and said dolly being composed of material of greater specific gravity than the liquid in the tub and rendered vertically projectible upon its drivin support by structural characteristics 0 said dolly "through the oscillation thereof within a liquid .tub content. a

,In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

JOHN NELSON. 

